Amazon launches first kid Kindle

The tech giant is launching a new eReader specifically for children, as well as expanding its FreeTime service to Fire TV devices.

Amazon is releasing its first ever eReader for kids and rolling out its FreeTime tech on Fire TV devices for the first time.

The Kindle Kids Edition will provide access to more than 1,000 eBooks, as well as Amazon’s kid-focused subscription-based software FreeTime Unlimited and a kid-friendly case beginning October 30. Available for US$110, some of the titles include Island of the Blue Dolphins, El Deafo and Bridge to Terabithia. Amazon will also be adding Spanish language books and Audible audio books to the devices soon.

On top of the typical eReader functions, Amazon has baked in achievement badges for kids to earn as they read; an easy discovery function for browsing and searching so kids can find titles without exact spelling; Word Wisewhich provides simple definitions for difficult words; a dictionary; Vocabulary Builder with flashcards for review and learning; and kid-friendly wallpapers.

Amazon is also expanding its kid-friendly software FreeTime and FreeTime Unlimited to its Fire TV streaming media player. The FreeTime app will be available through the Fire TV Stick now, followed by select Fire TV Edition smart TVs. It will offer a kid-friendly video experience where parents can add age filters, bedtime, weekday and weekend settings, and can add and remove content. The FreeTime Unlimited subscription (US$2.99 per month for Prime members and US$4.99 for everyone else) will also give users access to kids content from LEGO, Amazon Studios, Mattel and Prime Video.

The new kid-focused rollouts follow an announcement form earlier this year that Amazon is moving away from kids content and instead focusing on family co-viewing and young adults audiences with its original content efforts.

In late September, Amazon began rolling out FreeTime to more devices, including its Echo Show voice-assistant enabled device with both a speaker and a camera. It also added a messaging function to FreeTime-enabled Echo devices.